ContraFect Corporation (Nasdaq: CFRX), a late clinical-stage
biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of
direct lytic agents (DLAs), including lysins and amurin peptides,
as new medical modalities for the treatment of life-threatening,
antibiotic-resistant infections, today announced that the United
States Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No.
10,988,520 (the ‘520 patent), on April 27, 2021 for CF-370, the
company’s second potential therapeutic product candidate. The ‘520
patent, which is owned by ContraFect, expires in March of 2039, and
is the latest U.S. patent to issue from the company’s DLA patent
portfolio.
The ‘520 patent, entitled “Lysin-Antimicrobial
Peptide (AMP) Polypeptide Constructs, Lysins, Isolated
Polynucleotides Encoding Same and Uses Thereof” contains
composition of matter claims covering the CF-370 construct, and
claims for methods of treating Gram-negative bacterial infections,
including those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa),
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii),
Enterobacter cloacae and Escherichia coli.
This patent demonstrates the Company’s
commitment to developing an investigational product targeting P.
aeruginosa, a Gram-negative pathogen that causes severe infections,
including hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonias
and pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis infections.
Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane that makes them more
resistant to antibiotics. CF-370 has been molecularly engineered to
bypass this outer membrane to enable potent antimicrobial activity
in human serum in vitro, providing a novel mechanism to potentially
address life-threatening P. aeruginosa infections. By killing
targeted bacteria upon contact, lysins are fundamentally different
than conventional antibiotics.
"With the issuance of this important patent, we
continue expanding ContraFect’s strong intellectual property estate
covering this new class of antibacterial drugs. We believe that our
superiority-based therapeutic approach, led by the Phase 3
exebacase program being developed for Staph aureus bacteremia, has
the potential to fundamentally transform the treatment of patients
with life-threatening infections. The need for innovative
approaches that address the growing scourge of drug-resistant
bacterial infectious diseases is well recognized and we believe
that our direct lytic agents could be a significant part of the
global solution to this issue," said Roger J. Pomerantz, M.D.,
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of ContraFect.
About CF-370:
CF-370 is an investigational first-in-class
therapeutic candidate targeting P. aeruginosa, a Gram-negative
pathogen. CF-370 has been engineered to bypass the outer membrane
of the bacteria and to enable potent activity in human serum. The
Company believes this is a significant milestone for direct lytic
agents as native lysins are typically unable to penetrate the outer
membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and consequently unable to work
in vitro in human blood or in animal models. However, based on the
proprietary methods the Company has identified and utilizes to
engineer lysins, CF-370 has exhibited the hallmark in vitro
features of the lysin class, including rapid and potent
bactericidal activity, synergy with a broad range of standard of
care agents and the eradication of biofilms in preclinical studies.
The promising data from animal models support the potential
therapeutic utility of CF-370 for the treatment of serious
infections caused by P. aeruginosa, including hospital-acquired and
ventilator-associated pneumonias and pulmonary exacerbations of
cystic fibrosis.
About ContraFect:
ContraFect is a biotechnology company focused on
the discovery and development of DLAs, including lysins and amurin
peptides, as new medical modalities for the treatment of
life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections. An estimated
700,000 deaths worldwide each year are attributed to
antimicrobial-resistant infections. We intend to address life
threatening infections using our therapeutic product candidates
from our platform of DLAs, which include lysins and amurin
peptides. Lysins are a new class of DLAs which are recombinantly
produced antimicrobial proteins with a novel mechanism of action
associated with the rapid killing of target bacteria, eradication
of biofilms and synergy with conventional antibiotics. Amurin
peptides are a novel class of DLAs which exhibit broad-spectrum
activity against a wide range of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative
pathogens, including P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and Enterobacter
species. We believe that the properties of our lysins and amurin
peptides will make them suitable for targeting antibiotic-resistant
organisms, such as MRSA and P. aeruginosa, which can cause serious
infections such as bacteremia, pneumonia and osteomyelitis. We have
completed a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of Staph
aureus bacteremia, including endocarditis, with our lead lysin
candidate, exebacase, which is the first lysin to enter clinical
studies in the U.S. Exebacase, currently being studied in a pivotal
Phase 3 clinical study, was granted Breakthrough Therapy
designation by the FDA for the treatment of MRSA bloodstream
infections, including right-sided endocarditis, when used in
addition to SOC anti-staphylococcal antibiotics in adult
patients.
Follow ContraFect on Twitter @ContraFectCorp and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains, and our officers
and representatives may make from time to time, “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as
“projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,”
“expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,”
“potential,” “promise” or similar references to future periods.
Examples of forward-looking statements in this release include,
without limitation, statements regarding: the ‘520 patent, the
features and properties of CF-370, the Company’s portfolio,
ContraFect’s ability to discover and develop DLAs as new medical
modalities for the treatment of life-threatening,
antibiotic-resistant infections, whether ContraFect will address
life-threatening infections using its DLA platform, whether lysins
are a new class of DLAs which are recombinantly produced,
antimicrobial proteins with a novel mechanism of action associated
with the rapid killing of target bacteria, eradication of biofilms
and synergy with conventional antibiotics, whether amurins are a
novel class of DLAs which exhibit broad-spectrum activity against a
wide range of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, and
whether the properties of ContraFect’s lysins and amurins will make
them suitable for targeting antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as
MRSA and P. aeruginosa. Forward-looking statements are statements
that are not historical facts, nor assurances of future
performance. Instead, they are based on ContraFect’s current
beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of its
business, future plans, strategies, projections, anticipated events
and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because
forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject
to inherent risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that
are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond ContraFect’s
control, including the occurrence of any adverse events related to
the discovery, development and commercialization of ContraFect’s
product candidates such as unfavorable clinical trial results,
insufficient supplies of drug products, the lack of regulatory
approval, or the unsuccessful attainment or maintenance of patent
protection and other important risks detailed under the caption
“Risk Factors” in ContraFect's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from those set forth
in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could
cause actual results to differ include, among others, our ability
to develop treatments for drug-resistant infectious diseases. Any
forward-looking statement made by ContraFect in this press release
is based only on information currently available and speaks only as
of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable
law, ContraFect expressly disclaims any obligations to publicly
update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral,
that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise.
Investor Relations Contacts
Michael MessingerContraFect
Corporationmmessinger@contrafect.com
Carlo Tanzi, Ph.D.Kendall Investor
Relationsctanzi@kendallinvestorrelations.com
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